someone actually asked me that once. well really they asked," if we evolved from monkeys are you saying i could watch a monkey at the zoo for a really long time and he would turn into a person?"
"If fundies are too stupid to understand how evolution* works, why do we pay them so much attention?"
* Does it even need to be pointed out that the theory gained acceptance and dominance so quickly precisely because it was elegant and made quick intuitive sense, even to the "rubes" of the Victorian age?
The concise response is that we did not evolve from monkeys. Modern day monkeys and modern day humans evolved from a common ancestor. Based on archeological records, our common ancestor had more qualities in common with modern day monkeys than modern day humans.
It is also important to point out to people that while the theory of evolution is a "theory," it is a fact that species, including humans, change over time.
This is what happens when you only read one book ever. And really, they probably had someone else reading it for them, so I'll have to say: This is what happens when you don't read and you're stupid.
* Does it even need to be pointed out that the theory gained acceptance and dominance so quickly precisely because it was elegant and made quick intuitive sense, even to the "rubes" of the Victorian age?
It is also important to point out to people that while the theory of evolution is a "theory," it is a fact that species, including humans, change over time.